Pivotable inking device with guard means for code dating apparatus

ABSTRACT

For use in a rotary printing apparatus for marking individual packages moving in a line past a rotary printing member, a rotary inking device mounted upon said apparatus and including a rotary inking wheel and guard means therefor together being mounted for selective pivotal movement, on a pivot axis offset from the axis of the rotation of the printing member, between an operating condition aligned with said printing member and an inoperative condition offset from said alignment, stop means being provided for limiting the said pivotal movement.

I Umted States Patent 1* [111 3,745,920 McKay 1 1 July 17, 1973 [54] PIVOTABLE INKING DEVICE WITH GUARD 1,139,710 5/1915 Ocumpaugh 101/348 MEANS FOR com: DATING APPARATUS 1,608,236 11/1926 1,693,864 12/1928 Inventor: James y, Chicago, 1,463,504 7/1923 Frank et a1. 101/350 x [73] Assignee: Kiwi Coders Corporation, Chicago, OTHER PUBLICATIONS Websters New Collegiate Dictionary, Copyright 1961; 22 l June 24, 1970 p. 305; definition of fender [21] Appl' 483/84 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-R. E. Suter 52 us (:1. 101/329, 101 /34s Arwmeysilverman & Cass [51] Int. Cl. B411 31/00 [58] Field of Search 101/348, 350, 363, [57] ABSTRACT 35 For use in a rotary printing apparatus for marking individual packages moving in a line past a rotary printing 1 References Cited member, a rotary inking device mounted upon said ap- UNITED STATES PATENTS paratus and including a rotary inking wheel and guard 1,267,167 5/1918 Baker 101 35 meal-"S therefor together being mounted for Selective 2,776,620 1/1957 Quimby 101/328 pivotal movement, on a pivot axis offset from the axis 2,909,991 10/1959 Farkas 101/35 1 of the rotation of the printing member, between an op- 2,927,525 3/ fl ga tnerm- 01/35 erating condition aligned with said printing member 3,624,730 11/1971 (301189119 I01/76 and an inoperative condition offset from said align- 3289582 12/1966 McKay 01/329 ment, stop means being provided for limiting the said 2,595,279 5/1952 McKay 101/35 pivotal movement 3,047,123 7/1962 McKay 198/33 2,890,654 McKay 101/367 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures minnow m SHEET 1 OF 2 BY J: g/(2W ATTORNEYS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to inking devices and more particularly relates to improvements in rotary inking devices for rotary printing apparatus of the type used for application of indicia to packages moving in a line past said apparatus for the purpose of code dating, price marking and the like.

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER PATENTS The invention herein is an improvement of the inking device described and claimed in U.S. Pat. 3,289,582 granted Dec. 6, 1966 to James G. McKay, applicant herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A rotary inking device of the general type with which this invention is concerned is widely used in connection with automatic marking apparatus operative with a conveyor system which transports containers or packages in a continuous line past a printing station on such equipment so as to be marked at a selected location thereon. The inking device is positioned to transfer ink through a train of transfer rollers to a rotating printing device continuously as the printing device rotates.

The inking device generally is oriented so that its axis of rotation is in a vertical plane in its operative position, and, because of difficulty in establishing access to the device and supplying ink thereto without dismantling same or stopping the equipment, means have been heretofore provided for selectively moving the device from its operative position to a position offset therefrom. Such means involve the pivotal movement of the shaft from its vertically oriented operating position to a position outwardly spaced relative to the apparatus, disengaging the inking device from the transfer roller.

Here, difficulties have been encountered since the outwardly disposed inking device constitutes a protruding hazard for the user. The user inadvertently made contact with the protruding ink laden wheel resulting in injury to himself or at least damage to or soiling of clothing and person. The device also could easily'be damaged while in the outwardly extended condition. Also, means were not provided to prevent the high speed movement of the wheel from throwing ink about the area of the device. Backsplash means have been provided generally but were not capable of use in conjunction with a pivotally movable inking wheel in both operative and inoperative orientations thereof.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide an improved inking device of the character described which is capable of being oriented other than in operative position for establishing access thereto as for supplying ink thereto without interruption of the equipment or disassembly of the device, yet which does not constitute a hazard in either operative or inoperative orientations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved inking device of the character described which is provided with protective cover means movable with the device so that the user, coming into contact with the device, is protected against damages to person or property;

A further object 'of this invention is to provide an improved inking device of the character described which constructed and arranged for maximum compactness with no loss as to simplicity in use and installation and economy of manufacture and use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an inking device which includes an inking wheel operable upon a train of transfer wheels to apply ink to a rotary printing device. The inking wheel is mounted to a shaft which in turn is mounted for pivotal movement between a vertically oriented dispostion and a substantially horizontally oriented dispostion along a pivot axis offset from the rotative axis of the wheel and shaft. The shaft is mounted to the bottom surface of a plate carrying the inking device including a printing device so that the shaft is disposed for movement within a slot portion of the plate opening to one edge of said plate to permit passage of the shaft therepast. An arcuate guard is mounted to the shaft carrying the inking wheel and positioned to shield a substantial portion of the periphery of the wheel, said guard being movable intact with the movable shaft and wheel to protect the user from inadvertent contact with the inking wheel in its horizontal disposition and to prevent the high speed movement of the inking wheel from causing centrifugal throwing of ink in the area where the inking device is located.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing a fragmentary portion of a conveyor with the inking device of the invention connected to the said conveyor.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view in which the inking wheel of the invention has been moved to lie in a vertical plane to enable ink to be applied thereto.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the movable inking wheel in two positions.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevational view taken from the left side of the-inking device as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the movable inking wheel showing the swivel mounting thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The reference character 10 describes generally an inking device constructed inaccordance with the invention, the same being shown attached to a conveyor 12 upon which cartons such as shown at 14 are being moved past the inking device 10 as indicated by the arrows. The cartons are moved to the right, being carried by chains 16 along the table 18 of the conveyor 12.

The inking device 10, which includes a code dating wheel 20, is secured to the framework 22 of the table 18 by means ofa vertical shaft 24 clamped to a suitable bracket (not shown) that in turn is attached to the table 22 at a point somewhat below the level of the inking device 10.

The inking device 10 is mounted to a large plate 26. A spring anchor 28 is clamped to the shaft 24 as shown at 30 so that anchor 28 remains fixed in position relative to the frame 22. The plate 26 is urged to rotate in a counter clockwise direction relative to the shaft 24 as viewed in FIG. 1 by reason of the spring 34 which extends between the anchor 28 and an anchoring point 36 attached to the plate 26.

In this manner the entire plate 26 is free to rotate in a counter clockwise direction except as limited by the stop member 38, so as to bias the wheel 20 into the path of the cartons along the conveyor 12.

When a carton engages the code dating wheel 20, it will ride upon the same moving the wheel and entire plate 26 away from the frame 22, after which the plate 26 will return to a position in which the code dating wheel 20 will intersect an edge of oncoming cartons once more forcing slight rotary movement of the plate as the code dating wheel 20 rides up on the imprinting surface. The back-up means for imprinting is shown at 21.

A timing device is provided, for example, in accordance with US. Pat. No. 2,707,519 as shown at 40, the details of which are not concerned with the invention herein.

Ink is applied to the code dating wheel 20 by means of three rollers 42, 44 and 46. The roller 44 is driven by means of a belt 48 connected between the small pulley 50 mounted to rotate with the code dating wheel 20 and pulley 52 fixed to the inking wheel 44. During the period of time that the device is being used, the inking wheel 46 is engaged against the ink wheel 44 and driven frictionally thereon.

The three wheels 20, 42 and 44 are mounted on shafts 54, S6 and 58, their shafts extending between the base plate 26 and a top plate 60 which is held in place by suitable fastening means.

The inking wheel 46 is mounted on a shaft 62, the lower end of which is secured to a crank member 66 that in turn is frictionally connected with another shaft 68' at a location spaced from shaft 62. The axis of shaft 68 is offset from the axis of shaft 62, that is, displaced from the axis of shaft 62. Crank member 66 constitutes coupling means between the shafts 62 and 68. The entire shaft 62 and inking wheel 46 may be rotated, about shaft 68 as shown in FIG. 3 from the solid line position to the broken line position by means of knob 70 that is secured to the upper end of the shaft 62. In FIG. 2, one may see the position of the inking wheel 46 when its shaft 62 is parallel with the plate 26, the inking wheel having been rotated downwardly and outwardly so that said wheel is axially horizontal, displaced outwardly of plate 26.

It will be noted that the plate 26 has a slot 72 whereby the shaft 68 is mounted on the bottom of the plate 26 by a suitable clamping device 74 in which it is journalled as shown in FIGS. 3-5. Said device may be described as journal means for the shaft 68. Any suitable stop member (not shown) may be used to limit the movement of the inking wheel 46 to its axially horizontal disposition as indicated by the broken line structure of FIG. 3. When moving to its axially vertical position as shown by the solid lines of FIG. 3, the crank 66 or an extension thereof comprising the collar 76 with a flattened side as shown at 80 may come into engagement with the rear edge 82 of the slot 72 to serve as a positioning stop arrangement.

In order to protect the user against coming into contact with the inking wheel 46, there is collar 84 which is secured to the shaft 62 and the same has an arm 86 welded thereto as shown in FIG. 2 at 87. The other end of the arm has the arcuate guard or cover 90 welded thereto at 92 in FIG. 1. The position of the inking wheel 46 with its guard 90 at the end of the plate 26 is such that it is free to move without interference with the plate, and it serves to prevent the user from becoming soiled by contact with the wheel 46. High speed movement will also not cause centrifugal throwing of ink into the area where the device 10 is located.

The wheels 42 and 44 and 46 are constructed in accordance with US. Pat. No. 2,562,627 or the like and may include sheet metal face plates such as shown at 96 provided with ink openings at 98. It has been found however, that when the inking wheel 46 is in axially horizontal position, that is, it has been swiveled to the condition shown in FIG. 3 by the broken lines, ink may be applied directly to the foam rubber member forming the single applicator of the inking wheel 46 after which thesame may be moved to its axially vertical position for engagement with the wheel 44. Since ink will be distributed of the foam rubber members of all three wheels, application of ink to the wheel 46 may be accomplished without stopping operation of the conveyor 12.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A rotary inking device for package marking apparatus employing a rotary printing member for marking packages in succession and at least one ink transfer roller in surface engagement with said printing member and an inking wheel, said inking wheel operatively engageable with said transfer roller in frictional surface to surface relationship therewith, plate means for supporting said inking device, first shaft means defining the rotational axis of said inking wheel, second shaft means defining a pivot axis for pivotal movement of said first shaft means normal to said rotational axis, coupling means for said first and second shaft means, said first and second shaft means being in spaced parallel planes and journal means secured to said plate means for receiving said second shaft means, said first shaft means being movable about said pivot axis whereby to displace said inking wheel from its operatively engaged position with said transfer roller to a disengaged position physically displaced from said transfer roller, said pivot axis being located physically offset from the rota tional axis of said inking wheel and guard means secured to said first shaft means for movement therewith, said guard means extending over a portion of the periphery of said inking wheel to shield same and being movable with said inking wheel, said guard means being disposed in interference free relation relative to said plate means.

2. The inking device as claimed in claim 1 in which said guard means comprises an arcuate cover plate member and an arm permanently securing said cover plate member to said first shaft means, said cover plate spaced from the periphery of said'inking wheel and being of a dimension sufficient to extend over a substantial portion thereof.

3. The inking device as claimed in claim 1 and limit means for limiting the extent of movement of said first shaft means between said positions.

4. The inking device as claimed in claim 1 in which said plate means includes a plate member having an edge and a slot defined in said plate member opening to said edge, said journal means being secured to said plate member at a location adjacent to said slot with said first shaft means being movable within said slot during movement of said wheel between said positions.

5. The inking device as claimedin claim 4 and a collar mounted to said first shaft means adjacent said coupling means, said collar being engageable with said plate member at the interior of said slot, the depth of said slot being selected so that said collar engages said plate means when the inking wheel is oriented in operative position operably engaged with said transfer roller.

6. The inking device as claimed in claim 4 in which said journal means includes a clamping device for receiving said second shaft means journaled therein and said coupling means comprises a crank member secured to said first shaft means, said second shaft means being secured to said crank member at a location so that the first and second shaft means are in spaced parallel planes and said first shaft means being aligned with said slot.

7. For use in rotary printing apparatus for marking individaul packages moving in a line past a rotary printing member, a rotary inking wheel operable upon at least one transfer roller to transfer ink to the printing member, guard means for said inking w'heel extending about a substantial portion of the periphery thereof, a common shaft member, said inking wheel and said guard means together being secured to said common shaft member, means for enabling pivotal movement of said common shaft in a direction normal to the rotational axis of the inking wheel about a pivot axis spaced from the rotational axis of the inking wheel and between a first position with'the inking wheel operatively engaged with the transfer roller and second position offset from said first position about 90 and stop means for limiting the extent of movement of the common shaft member, a plate member for mounting said apparatus, said plate member having an outwardly opening elongate slot having an inner edge and said means for enabling pivotal movement of said inking wheel and guard means together relative to said plate member comprising coupling means, a second shaft defining said pivot axis, and journal means for receiving said second shaft, said coupling means comprising a crank member secured upon said common shaft member, said second shaft being secured to said coupling means so that said common shaft and second shaft lie in spaced parallel planes for movement of said common shaft member relative to said plate member in a direction normal to the rotational axis of said inking wheel, said common shaft being movable within said slot and said stop means including means carried by said coupling means.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said means carried by said coupling means includes a collar mounted on said common shaft, said collar having a flattened side engaging the said plate member when said inking wheel is in the first position.

9. A rotary inking device for package marking apparatus employing a rotary printing member for marking packages in succession and at least one ink transfer roller in surface engagement with said printing member and an inking wheel, said inking wheel operatively engagable with said transfer roller in frictional surface to surface relationship herewith, first shaft means for carrying said inking wheel for rotary movement thereabout, plate means for supporting the inking device, means to permit movement of said first shaft means in a direction normal to the rotaional axis of said inking wheel and physicallyoffset from the rotational axis of said inking wheel and including second shaft means, means coupling one end of said second shaft means to said first shaft means and spaced therefrom with the respective axes thereof being at one relative to the other and journal means secured to said plate means, said journal means receiving the other end of said second shaft means, said first and second shaft means are in spaced parallel planes and arcuate guard means secured to said first shaft means. 

1. A rotary inking device for package marking apparatus employing a rotary printing member for marking packages in succession and at least one ink transfer roller in surface engagement with said printing member and an inking wheel, said inking wheel operatively engageable with said transfer roller in frictional surface to surface relationship therewith, plate means for supporting said inking device, first shaft means defining the rotational axis of said inking wheel, second shaft means defining a pivot axis for pivotal movement of said first shaft means normal to said rotational axis, coupling means for said first and second shaft means, said first and second shaft means being in spaced parallel planes and journal means secured to said plate means for receiving said second shaft means, said first shaft means being movable about said pivot axis whereby to displace said inking wheel from its operatively engaged position with said transfer roller to a disengaged position physically displaced from said transfer roller, said pivot axis being located physically offset from the rotational axis of said inking wheel and guard means secured to said first shaft means for movement therewith, said guard means extending over a portion of the periphery of said inking wheel to shield same and being movable with said inking wheel, said guard means being disposed in interference free relation relative to said plate means.
 2. The inking device as claimed in claim 1 in which said guard means comprises an arcuate cover plate member and an arm permanently securing said cover plate member to said first shaft means, said cover plate spaced from the periphery of said inking wheel and being of a dimension sufficient to extend over a substantial portion thereof.
 3. The inking device as claimed in claim 1 and limit means for limiting the extent of movement of said first shaft means between said positions.
 4. The inking device as claimed in claim 1 in which said plate means includes a plate member having an edge and a slot defined in said plate member opening to said edge, said journal means being secured to said plate member at a location adjacent to said slot with said first shaft means being movable within said slot during movement of said wheel between said positions.
 5. The inking device as claimed in claim 4 and a collar mounted to said first shaft means adjacent said coupling means, said collar being engageable with said plate member at the interior of said slot, the depth of said slot being selected so that said collar engages said plate means when the inking wheel is oriented in operative position operably engaged with said transfer roller.
 6. The inking device as claimed in claim 4 in which said journal means includes a clamping device for receiving said second shaft means journaled therein and said coupling means comprises a crank member secured to said first shaft means, said second shaft means being secured to said crank member at a location so that the first and second shaft means are in spaced parallel planes and said first shaft means being aligned with said slot.
 7. For use in rotary printing apparatus for marking individaul packages moving in a line past a rotary printing member, a rotary inking wheel operable upon at least one transfer roller to transfer ink to the printing member, guard means for said inking wheel extending about a substantial portion of the periphery thereof, a common shaft member, said inking wheel and said guard means together being secured to said common shaft member, means for enabling pivotal movement of said common shaft in a direction normal to the rotational axis of the inking wheel about a pivot axis spaced from thE rotational axis of the inking wheel and between a first position with the inking wheel operatively engaged with the transfer roller and second position offset from said first position about 90* and stop means for limiting the extent of movement of the common shaft member, a plate member for mounting said apparatus, said plate member having an outwardly opening elongate slot having an inner edge and said means for enabling pivotal movement of said inking wheel and guard means together relative to said plate member comprising coupling means, a second shaft defining said pivot axis, and journal means for receiving said second shaft, said coupling means comprising a crank member secured upon said common shaft member, said second shaft being secured to said coupling means so that said common shaft and second shaft lie in spaced parallel planes for movement of said common shaft member relative to said plate member in a direction normal to the rotational axis of said inking wheel, said common shaft being movable within said slot and said stop means including means carried by said coupling means.
 8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 in which said means carried by said coupling means includes a collar mounted on said common shaft, said collar having a flattened side engaging the said plate member when said inking wheel is in the first position.
 9. A rotary inking device for package marking apparatus employing a rotary printing member for marking packages in succession and at least one ink transfer roller in surface engagement with said printing member and an inking wheel, said inking wheel operatively engagable with said transfer roller in frictional surface to surface relationship herewith, first shaft means for carrying said inking wheel for rotary movement thereabout, plate means for supporting the inking device, means to permit movement of said first shaft means in a direction normal to the rotaional axis of said inking wheel and physically offset from the rotational axis of said inking wheel and including second shaft means, means coupling one end of said second shaft means to said first shaft means and spaced therefrom with the respective axes thereof being at 90* one relative to the other and journal means secured to said plate means, said journal means receiving the other end of said second shaft means, said first and second shaft means are in spaced parallel planes and arcuate guard means secured to said first shaft means. 